The Last Married Couple in America

Last updated
The Last Married Couple in America
Poster of the movie The Last Married Couple in America.jpg
Directed by Gilbert Cates
Written byJohn Herman Shaner
Produced by Edward S. Feldman
John Herman Shaner
Starring George Segal
Natalie Wood
Richard Benjamin
Valerie Harper
Dom DeLuise
Bob Dishy
Cinematography Gerald Hirschfeld
Edited by Sidney Katz
Music by Charles Fox
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • February 8, 1980 (1980-02-08)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$12,835,544 [1]

The Last Married Couple in America is a 1980 comedy film released in the US. [2]

Contents

It was directed by Gilbert Cates, whose most successful film Oh, God! Book II , was released in the same year. The film starred George Segal and Natalie Wood as a California couple in the late 1970s struggling to maintain their "happily married" status as all their friends begin to get divorces and seem to be caught up in the decadence of the sexual revolution and the "ME" era. This is the last completed theatrical release Natalie Wood made before her death in 1981.

Plot

Life is going along smoothly for Jeff and Mari Thompson but not for any other couple they know, or so it seems. Everyone they know is getting divorced.

Their life is disrupted when Mari's old college friend, Barbara, comes into it and begins a fling with Jeff, which causes Mari to contemplate an affair of her own.

Music

The theme song to this film is "We Could Have It All," sung by Maureen McGovern. The song became a hit on the adult contemporary charts of Canada (#6) [3] and the U.S. (#16). [4] It was written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel. Also featured on the soundtrack is Denise LaSalle's "I'm Trippin' on You", which was released as a single in 1981.

Cast

Box office

Upon release, the film was disappointing at the box office. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Wood</span> American actress (1938–1981)

Natalie Wood was an American actress who began her career in film as a child and successfully transitioned to young adult roles.

<i>Love Story</i> (1970 film) 1970 romantic drama film written by Erich Segal

Love Story is a 1970 American romantic drama film written by Erich Segal, who was also the author of the best-selling 1970 novel of the same name. It was produced by Howard G. Minsky, and directed by Arthur Hiller, starring Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal, John Marley, Ray Milland and Tommy Lee Jones in his film debut.

<i>A Touch of Class</i> (film) 1973 film by Melvin Frank

A Touch of Class is a 1973 British romantic comedy film produced and directed by Melvin Frank and starring George Segal, Glenda Jackson, Hildegard Neil, Paul Sorvino and K Callan. The film tells the story of a couple having an affair, who find themselves falling in love. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, with Jackson winning Best Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Merchant</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1963)

Natalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter. She joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and was lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group. She remained with the group for their first seven albums before leaving to begin her solo career in 1993. She has since released nine studio albums as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Wagner</span> American actor (born 1930)

Robert John Wagner Jr. is an American actor of stage, screen, and television. He is known for starring in the television shows It Takes a Thief (1968–1970), Switch (1975–1978), and Hart to Hart (1979–1984). He later had recurring roles on Two and a Half Men (2007–2008) and NCIS (2010–2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Segal</span> American actor (1934–2021)

George Segal Jr. was an American actor. He became popular in the 1960s and 1970s for playing both dramatic and comedic roles. After first rising to prominence with roles in acclaimed films such as Ship of Fools (1965) and King Rat (1965), he co-starred in the classic drama Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Quine</span> American actor (1920–1989)

Richard Quine was an American director, actor, and singer.

<i>Hart to Hart</i> American mystery TV series

Hart to Hart is an American mystery television series that premiered on August 25, 1979, on ABC. The show stars Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, respectively, a wealthy couple who lead a glamorous jetset lifestyle and regularly find themselves working as unpaid detectives in order to solve crimes in which they become embroiled. The series was created by novelist and television writer Sidney Sheldon. The series ended after five seasons on May 22, 1984, but was followed by eight made-for-television movies, from 1993 to 1996.

<i>Inside Daisy Clover</i> 1965 American film

Inside Daisy Clover is a 1965 American drama film based on Gavin Lambert's 1963 novel of the same name, directed by Robert Mulligan and starring Natalie Wood. It follows a tomboy becoming a Hollywood actress and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dermot Mulroney</span> American actor (b. 1963)

Dermot Patrick Mulroney is an American actor. He is known for his roles in romantic comedy, western, and drama films.

<i>Father, Dear Father</i> British TV sitcom (1968–1973)

Father, Dear Father is a British television sitcom produced by Thames Television for ITV from 1968 to 1973 starring Patrick Cargill. It was subsequently made into a spin-off film of the same title released in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natasha Gregson Wagner</span> American actress

Natasha Gregson Wagner is an American actress. She is the daughter of film producer Richard Gregson and actress Natalie Wood. She has appeared in films including Lost Highway, Two Girls and a Guy,First Love, Last Rites, Urban Legend, Another Day in Paradise and High Fidelity (2000).

<i>California Split</i> 1974 film by Robert Altman

California Split is a 1974 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Altman and starring Elliott Gould and George Segal as a pair of gamblers. It was the first non-Cinerama film to use eight-track stereo sound.

<i>Dutch</i> (1991 film) 1991 film by Peter Faiman

Dutch is a 1991 American road comedy-drama film directed by Peter Faiman, and written by John Hughes. The film stars Ed O'Neill and Ethan Embry, co-starring JoBeth Williams, Christopher McDonald, Ari Meyers, and E. G. Daily. The original music score was composed by Alan Silvestri.

<i>Petulia</i> 1968 film by Richard Lester

Petulia is a 1968 drama film directed by Richard Lester and starring Julie Christie, George C. Scott and Richard Chamberlain. The film has a screenplay by Lawrence B. Marcus from a story by Barbara Turner and is based on the 1966 novel Me and the Arch Kook Petulia by John Haase. It was scored by John Barry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When All Is Said and Done</span> 1981 single by ABBA

"When All Is Said and Done" is a song recorded in 1981 by Swedish pop group ABBA, and is featured on the group's eighth studio album, The Visitors. The track – with lead vocals by Anni-Frid Lyngstad – was released as a single in the United States on 31 December 1981 on Atlantic 3889, and reached No. 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1982.

"The Crying Game" is a song written by Geoff Stephens. It was first released by English rock singer Dave Berry in July 1964. It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart.

"Grow Old with Me" is one of the final songs written by John Lennon. It was first recorded by Lennon as a demo while in Bermuda. A handwritten lyric sheet for the song is dated July 5, 1980 Fairyland Bermuda. The song was first released on the posthumous album Milk and Honey in 1984. It was also rumored to be among the songs planned as a possible reunion single by his former bandmates during the making of The Beatles Anthology.

<i>The War of the Roses</i> (film) 1989 black comedy film directed by Danny DeVito

The War of the Roses is a 1989 American satirical black comedy film based upon the 1981 novel of the same name by Warren Adler. The film follows a wealthy couple with a seemingly perfect marriage. When their marriage begins to fall apart, material possessions become the center of an outrageous and bitter divorce battle.

<i>Illicit</i> (1931 film) 1931 film

Illicit is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Barbara Stanwyck, James Rennie, Ricardo Cortez, and Natalie Moorhead. Based on a play by Edith Fitzgerald and Robert Riskin, the film is about a young couple living together out of wedlock because the woman does not believe in marriage. When they finally get married, both become unfaithful to each other. Illicit was produced and distributed by Warner Bros.

References

  1. "The Last Married Couple in America". Box Office Mojo .
  2. The New York Times
  3. Collectionscanada.gc.ca
  4. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 159.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes